The primary objective of a root canal treatment is to preserve a tooth that is already infected or damaged deeply. It is a simple procedure that can treat pain and restore the health of your tooth and body.
There are many people who might not be aware that there are symptoms when a root canal treatment is required. Identifying the warning signs will help avoid more significant dental problems in the future.
Why Do You Need a Root Canal?
A root canal treatment is necessary when there is an infection or inflamed pulp inside a tooth due to decay or cracks. When damage occurs in the pulp that holds the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth, it results in pain, swelling, and soreness. If not taken care of, the infection has the possibility of spreading to the surrounding bone and tissues, which might lead to tooth loss.
To save from tooth extraction or tooth infection, a root canal procedure is done that consists of removing the infected pulp along with cleaning and disinfecting the tooth. This procedure ensures that the tooth remains functional while minimizing pain and preserving it from extraction. It also helps to reduce tooth sensitivity.
Dentists may even give local anaesthesia to avoid pain during tooth cleaning, dental filling, or make the root canal system painless. Some dentists may even suggest to go for dental X-rays to get a clear picture of the tooth.
7 Signs You May Require a Root Canal
If you are observing any of the following signs, you may require root canal surgery:
- Persistent Tooth Pain: Pain that is constant or increasing, particularly when you are not actively eating or drinking, is an indication of tooth pulp inflammation and infection. The pain can sometimes be more or less and if the pain occurs at night, it may be challenging for you to sleep.
- Sensitivity to Hot and Cold Foods and Beverages If sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages increases and the pain persists after eating, then this may indicate that the tooth is infected or may be the reason for nerve damage.
- Tooth Discoloration: A tooth that has turned a darker or grayish shade may have pulp damage or infection. Those symptoms are a result of internal damage to the tooth.
- Swollen or tender gum: Infected or damaged pulp may cause the surrounding gums to swell, becoming red and tender. You may notice a small pimple-like bump on the gums that may be filled with pus and may also show other symptoms.
- Pain When Chewing or Biting: If you find it difficult to chew or bite because of pain, it possibly means that the infection or decay may reach the root of the bone. The pain felt can be at different levels of intensity and can cause a hindrance when it comes to eating.
- Chipped or Cracked Tooth: Cracking or chipping of teeth means the outer enamel is affected and can lead to subsequent infection. If the crack or chip reaches the level of the pulp cavity, pain is felt and may require root canal treatment. If the chip reaches the cavity, it would lead to loss of the tooth.
- Persistent Bad Breath or Unpleasant Taste: Such infection may result in pus release, which can cause bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth. If the infection is not treated, it may lead to a bad taste signaling the tooth’s rotten pulp, which signifies that root canal surgery is needed.
Associated Risks And Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Benefits of Undergoing a Root Canal:
Following is the list of advantages of a root canal surgery procedure:
- Pain Relief: A root canal helps to relieve existing severe pain to the tooth caused by infection or inflammation.
- Tooth Preservation: Saves your natural tooth, thus, preventing its extraction.
- Improved Oral Health: The root canal prevents the spreading of infections to other teeth and tissues.
- Restoration of Function: The root canal surgery restores the ability to chew and speak without additional pain.
- Aesthetic Benefits: A root canal treatment preserves the cosmetic appearance of the smile especially with a dental crown post-treatment.
- Potential Risks or Complications:
Some complications associated with root canal treatment are as follows:
- Infection: Infection can come back if bacteria are present or enter the tooth again.
- Tooth Fracture: The treated tooth can become weak and break easily.
- Nerve Damage: Rare nerve damage can lead to numbness or loss of sensation, which is highly abnormal.
- Pain and discomfort Some discomfort might remain after treatment as the area heals.
- Treatment Failure: In some cases, the root canal is ineffective and may need to be redone in another procedure for resolution.
When to seek professional help?
If you are facing any of the following emergency symptoms, it is necessary to seek professional dental help:
- Toothache pain ranges from bad to worse: Pain, especially around the teeth, can hint towards a serious infection if it persists after trying to numb it for several days.
- Gum tenderness or swelling: Painful red or swollen gums close to the infected tooth suggest a possible infection requiring a quick response.
- Fever: Fever along with pus or a pimple-type swelling around the infected tooth needs immediate attention as it requires quick action before the underlying infection spreads.
- Painful feeling when biting or chewing: The tooth pulp may be infected if the sore feeling while biting or chewing hurts a particular sore tooth.
How Delaying Treatment Can Affect Your Oral Health:
Postponing treatment for a root canal may cause a lot of problems, including:
- Infection spreading: An untreated infection can expand to nearby tissues, bone or other teeth, which further damages teeth where bones or other tissues may need removing, leading to losing more teeth than required.
- Formation of Abscess: A failure to address an infection can lead to the creation of a dental abscess, which is a pus-filled cavity that causes severe pain, often needing surgical incisions for drainage purposes.
- Incremented Complexity of Treatment: Postponing treatment can lead to higher chances of surgical complications and advanced treatments, making it even more expensive.
- Loss of Tooth: Without timely treatment, the infection has a huge potential to cause damage to the tooth beyond repair, which in the latter stages will require the extraction of the tooth.
Because of these, seeking the services of an emergency dentist in Dallas whenever you experience symptoms of an infection or any other dental issue is essential. With early treatment, more severe problems and loss of teeth can be avoided.
Want To Undergo Root Canal Treatment? Schedule An Appointment With Us
If you are struggling with toothache, maintaining good oral health may minimize your pain. At Dent Urgent, our experts will ensure all your dental issues, like advanced root canal infections, are taken care of through the latest industry technology available. We not only help in reducing toothache but will also tend to save your natural tooth from deterioration.
We try to execute simple and pain-free root canal surgeries that enable further complications to be mitigated. Let us help you achieve that bright smile by scheduling an appointment today.